While divorce in general is on the decline, a significant number of marriages still don’t last in New Jersey. Common perceptions of what life after divorce might look like have also changed. Child custody arrangements, the advent of collaborative and mediated divorce settlements and the idea of conscious uncoupling popularized by certain celebrities have all contributed to a new perception of divorce in the 21st century.
It used to be that very young children were thought to be better off spending the majority of their time with their mothers and the courts tended to favor maternal custody for this reason. With the advent of dual income households and more gender neutrality in general, this belief has gone by the wayside. It is now widely understood that a relationship with both parents is in the best interest of the child and joint custody is becoming the norm.
It can be very stressful to children to watch their parents fight. Many parents are striving to keep their divorce proceedings amicable through the use of the mediated settlement or collaborative divorce options. These both require that the couple be able to communicate directly and amicably with each other in order to reach a final settlement. This can also save money and time which can allow the new family dynamic to achieve a new normal relatively quickly.
Divorce is seldom entered into lightly in New Jersey but with the new options available it can be a somewhat simpler process. Regardless, no one should go through the process alone. A person who is considering a divorce could benefit from seeking the counsel of a knowledgeable family law attorney who can further explain the options available.